Braintree Town 0 FC Halifax Town 2

Braintree Town’s young team did their best, but it was not quite good enough as their first game back in the National League, following promotion, ended in a home defeat on Saturday.

Despite an encouraging first-half display, they allowed a more experienced and streetwise FC Halifax Town to dominate the second period, and in the end the Yorkshire visitors were good value for their win.

But for the heroics of Iron’s debutant keeper, Ben Killip, who pulled off six outstanding saves, winning margin would certainly have been greater.

Halifax’s breakthrough came two minutes from the interval. It came from a series of accurate corners by Ben Tomlinson, his final cross being met at the far post by the unmarked Jonathan Edwards, who headed it back across the goal and into the top corner of the net.

Luke Allen (hidden) goes close for Braintree Town in the first half of their home defeat to FC Halifax Town. Picture: JON WEAVER

It was a bitter blow for the Iron, right on half-time, and it clearly affected the players because in the second half they were second best.

The all-important second goal for the visitors came on 65 minutes. Another left-wing Tomlinson corner saw defender Nathan Clarke running unchallenged to deliver a bullet-like header into the top corner of the net, giving Killip no chance.

From then on it was almost one-way traffic as the young and inexperienced hosts ran out of ideas.

The Iron’s failure to penetrate the visitors’ defence and their clear lack of a target man up front also led to their demise, and left manager Brad Quinton with plenty of thinking to do before his side go to Barnet on Tuesday night.

Lyle Delle Verde on the ball for Braintree Town against FC Halifax Town. Picture: JON WEAVER

“It’s going to be a big learning curve for my young players. The more experienced visitors cleared their lines and did a horrible defensive job when needed, but we didn’t do the same,” admitted Quinto.

“You have to be on your toes all the while at this level and it cost us the game from two corners. Otherwise I thought we did well, even if we over-played it too often, proving to be our own worse enemies.”